School scores up in local districts | News | dailyindependent.com – The Independent

The Kentucky Department of Education recently released assessments on area school district’s performances in the 2022-23 school year.

Each year, the state assesses the average of student test scores to categorize them on a scale ranging from “very low” to “very high” by evaluating a multitude of data ranging from student performance on end-of-year exam scores, college readiness, vocational program completion and graduation success.

The state annually “grades” school performance based on elementary, middle and high school students’ test scores by calculating how many students scored novice, apprentice, proficient and distinguished in an array of core subjects.

With students back in the classrooms after COVID-19 caused educational stunting across the nation, local school personnel have worked diligently to get students back to their pre-pandemic levels.

Here’s a recap of the top-placing schools in the district:

Ponderosa Elementary

Scores at Ponderosa qualified the school to earn a “significant increase” by state standards in science, social studies and writing with a 97.4 indicator rating. In order for scores to fall in the “significant increase” category, average scores are required to jump nine or more points.

Fifty-five percent of all students were deemed either proficient or distinguished in reading and 56% were proficient or distinguished in mathematics.

Ponderosa received an overall combined indicator rate, which combines all tested areas, of 84.8 — placing the school in the “very high” status placement.

Boyd County Superintendent Bill Boblett said he is proud of Ponderosa.

“I am very proud of Ponderosa,” Boblett said, adding the school is consistently a top performer.

“Our staff there works extremely hard and our students work extremely hard,” Boblett said.

Boblett said while there’s always work to do in improving student growth, his district has made sure to do their part in catching kids up post-pandemic.

“There’s always been kids that need extra help, even prior to COVID. But COVID showed us that there’s even a greater need to get them where they need to be,” Boblett said.

Poage Elementary

Of the students tested, 60% scored proficient or distinguished in reading and 49% of students scored the same in mathematics.

Poage’s combined reading and math indicator rate equaled 77.7, qualifying the school in the “high” ranking category in those respective placements.

In total, the school received a 73 in overall combined indicator rate.

Russell Primary

Tested students at Russell Primary School totaled a 71.7 in combined reading and math scores with an overall combined indicator rate of 73.

Russell Primary’s combined reading and math scores received a “high” rank assessment in both subjects.

Wurtland Middle

Forty-four percent of tested students at Wurtland Middle received proficient or distinguished test scores in reading and 34% were reported as proficient or distinguished in mathematics.

The school lacked only half a point from earning “very high” status in math and reading proficiency.

The school’s 68.4 combined reading and math indicator rate and 65.1 in science, social studies and writing, places the school as a high status in all tested subjects.

Wurtland Middle showed a “significant increase” from last year in in science, social studies and writing combined, performing particularly well in writing, with 55% of students scoring proficient or distinguished in that category.

Raceland- Worthington Middle

More than half the students at Raceland-Worthington Middle earned proficient or distinguished in reading and their combined math indicator also places them as a high status performer.

Raceland-Worthington Middle received a “very high” status in science, social studies and writing with a total indicator rate of 70.5.

Like Wurtland, students at Raceland also performed well in writing, with 67% of tested students receiving either proficient or distinguished scores.

Russell Middle

The middle school Red Devils tallied 47% of tested students scoring proficient or distinguished in reading and 50% proficient or distinguished scorers in mathematics.

Russell Middle maintained its high status in both math and reading and increased their performances in science, social studies and writing.

More than half of the tested students scored proficient or distinguished in combined writing.

Area high schools indicator scores are calculated a bit differently than elementary and middle levels, as not only are subject scores taken into consideration but also their rate of post-secondary indicators and graduation indicators.

Ashland Blazer High

Ashland Blazer High School received the top spot out of area high schools with a 75.1 overall indicator rate.

The school’s 111.8 post-secondary indicator rate, showcasing high school students who have earned their degree and meet “readiness” in academic or trade, places the school as a “very high” status

This year’s indicator of students ready for the next step after graduation was recorded as a “significant increase” from the previous school year.

Students also received high marks in reading, with more than half of the students tested scoring proficient or distinguished.

Ashland Blazer Principal Jamie Campbell said he’s most proud of the post-secondary score.

“It is an absolute collaborative effort to do whatever we can to make sure our kids are ready for their next step — whether it’s college, vocational or in the workplace,” Campbell said.

Russell High

According to the data obtained, Russell High School has the highest graduation indicator rate out of all of the high schools in Boyd and Greenup Counties.

Russell also received a post-secondary rate equating to a “very high” status in students completing AP courses, college credits or industry certifications before their high school graduation.

In academic performance, Russell received the second-highest indicator rate in science, social studies and writing test scores.

With an overall indicator rate of 71.4, Russell’s performance places them as “high” achievement status across the board.

Raceland- Worthington High

Rounding out the top three performing high school’s in Boyd and Greenup Counties, Raceland-Worthington High School received the second-highest indicator rate in graduation and third-highest in post-secondary indicators.

Test scores in science, social studies and writing also place Raceland-Worthington High School with a “very high” status in those combined subjects.

Fifty-three percent of tested students scored proficient or distinguished in reading and increased their total indicator rating in science, social studies and writing from previous years.

Students at Raceland performed particularly well in combined writing with 57% of tested students earning proficient or distinguished scores.